11. inRu pOy naaLai vaa
When Ravana lost his crown, chariot horses, weapons etc. and stood
alone in the battlefield, Rama told him that one cannot win by
adharma and Ravana had seen it himself. He would not kill him though
it could be done in a moment. Rama gave Ravana another chance
saying that if he agreed to return Seetha and make his brother the
king of Lanka and remain serving him he could survive or else his head
would fall on the ground. Any way Rama said that since Ravana was
fatigued and weaponless he could return to Lanka and could come the
next day.
Kamban here gives an implication to the kaaruNya of Rama shown
even to the one who did a great offense to him by separating him and
Seetha. It was left to Thyagaraja to elucidate it further. Kamban says,
-----------------------inRu pOi pOrkku
Naalai vaa ena nalginan--------------
---------------kosalanaadudai vaLLal
Rama, the generous benefactor who had the kingdom of Kosala at his
disposal told Ravana to go and return the next day.
Why should Kamban say „kOsala naadudai vaLLal?‟ Thygaraja gives
the answer in his krthi ‘sarasasamdhana’ in kaapinaarayani raga. He
says
Hithavu matalenhobhaagabhalkithivi
Sathamuganayodhyaanicche nantivi
“You said wellwishing words to Ravana and even offered him the
kingdom of Ayodhya.”
Rama offerd him kosala rajya because in case Ravana turned a new
leaf he could not give him the lankarajya which has been already given
to Vibheeshana!
This proves what the Lord was going to say in his incarnation as
Krishna, api cheth sudhi uraachaaro bhajathe maam
ananyabhaak saaDhureva sa manthavyaH, “even if one is
extremely wicked if he resorts to Me he should be considered as a 24
good soul.” That is the kaaruNya which made Rama say when
Vibheeshana came to him that he would give surrender to whoever
that comes even if it is Ravana himself.
Kamban describes Ravana who returned to Lanka thus.
vaaraNam porudha maarbum, varaiyinai eduttha thOLum.
naaradha munivarkku ERpa nayampada uraittha naavum
naar aNi mavuli patthum, Sankaran koduttha vaaLum.
veeramum kaLatthe pOttu,verumkaiyE meendupOnaan.
Ravana left all at the battle field, his chest which faced the tusks of
Airavatha, his shoulders which raised the Kailasa mountain, his
eloquence that matched that of sage Narada, his ten crowns on his ten
heads, his sword given by Lord Siva and his valour, and went away
empty handed.
Ravana with his head down walked to his palace. Kamban says he
noticed no one but the earth goddess, meaning that he walked with his
eyes to the ground with bent head.
maadhiram evaiyum nOkkaan , vaLa nagar nOkkaan, vandha
kaadhalarthammai nOkkaan, kadal perum senai nOkkaan,
thaadhu avizh koondhal maadhar thanithani nOkka, thaan
bhoothalam ennum nangai thannaiyE nOkkippukkaan
He did not see the the city, the armylike a sea, his close relatives or
the women who looked at him but he walked with his eyes only on the
damsel called bhoodevi.
Kamban says Ravana was ashamed not because all in heaven and
earth and his enemies will laugh at him but because Seetha will
ridicule him. jaanaki naguvaL enRe naaNatthaal
chaambuginRaan
12. Death of Kumbakarna
Kumbakarna learning from Ravana what happened, gave a loud laugh
and chided Ravana for not listening to the advice of the well wishers
like Vibheeshana and taking a course of action against the principle of
polity without consulting anyone, ( here Valmiki through the words of
Kumbakarna gives out a short discourse on the duties of a king) and
thus he brought everything on his head by his own actions. But
Ravana became angry and said that he did not need advice at that
juncture but only help from his brother. Then Kumabakarna seeing
him agitated and desolate assured him that he would go and destroy
everyone and advanced to the battlefield.
Rama was surprised to see the colossal giant and asked Vibheeshana
about him. Vibheeshana told Rama that Kumbakarna was born a giant 25
and was eating all beings and Brahma cursed him to go to sleep and
granted a concession at the request of Ravana that he would wake up
for one day in six months. Vibheeshana said that Ravana must have
awakened him from sleep to help him in the battle.
( In uttarakanda it is said that Kumbakarna like Ravana and
Vibheeshana did penance and while Ravana got the boon not to be
killed by anyone except humans and vanaras and Vibheeshana asked
for the intellect that is established in dharma always, devas begged
Brahma not to give boon to Kumbakarna who was already terrorizing
the world and Brahma created a maya which made Kumbakarna ask
for nidhrathva, state of sleep instead of nithythva eternity he wanted.
Probably Vibheeshana did not know this.)
When Kumabakarna advanced all vanaras fled from fear and he
advanced creating a great havoc among them grasping them and
eating them and Hanuman showered trees and mountains on him from
above. Valmiki says that the vanras who enrtered his mouth escaped
through his ears and nose! Sugriva challenged him but fell down
senseless getting a blow from Kumbakarna, who carried him to Lanka.
When Sugreeva regained consciousness he found himself in the streets
of Lanka and he escaped biting off the nose and ears of Kumbakarna.
With blood gushing forth , earless and noseless he again advanced to
the battlefield.
Vanaras bravely attacked him encouraged by Angadha but were
powerless against his colossal form and strength. Lakshmana came to
fight with him but he ignored Lakshmana and advanced towards
Rama. Rama first cut off one arm and seeing him advancing with a
tree, in hand cut off the other arm also and finally chopped his head
off and that was the end of Kumbakarna.
The episode of the death of Kumbakarna is portrayed in a slightly
different manner in Kamban.
When Rama asked Vibheeshana about him he said that Kumbakarna
advised Ravana that what he was doing was not good for the
rakshasas but when he did not listen he came to battle knowing well
that he was to die. Then Sugreeva opined that they could bring him to
their side and with the permission of Rama, Vibheeshana went to
Kumbakarna with that motive, and fell at his feet. What Kumbakarna
said is exclusive to Kamban extolling the character of Kumbakarna and
justifying the act of Vibheeshna. He said, thinking that Vibheeshana
had left Rama and returned to their side,
uyndhanai oruvan pOnaai ena uvakkinREn than
Sindhanai muzhudhum theLivilaar pOla
Vandhadhu en thaniyE , enRaan mazhaiyin neer vazhangu
kaNNaan,
Kumbakarna with tears streaming from his eyes like rain, said, he
thought that at least one among them had reached salvation and
asked him why he came back.
Kavijnarin aRivu mikkaai Kaalan vaai kkaLikkinrEn paal
navai uRa vandhadhu en nee ? amudhu uNbaai nanju uNbaayo?
He said that Vibheeshana was wise and why should he come to
Kumbakarna who is playing in the mouth of death and asked him
whether he would eat poison or nectar, meaning that he had resorted 26
to Rama who is like nectar, comparing himself to poison.
Kumbakarna continued to say that with Vibheeshana the clan of
Pulasthya had acquired merit even if the whole rakshasa tribe would
perish. He said Rama would never forsake him and he had attained
eternity by resorting to Rama and if he had not done so there would
not be anyone who could do last rites to them when all the rakshasa
were killed in the battle.
Vibheeshana told him that he came with a purpose and asked him to
surrender to Rama and assume the kingdom of Lanka. Hearing his
words Kumbakarna embraced him and said that Vibheeshana had the
boon from Brahma that he would be unswerving from the path of
dharma and hence it is his svadharma to join Rama who is the
embodiment of dharma . But , he said that his svadharma is to
sacrifice his life to Ravana who had nurtured him. He consoled
Vibheeshana that no one could change the fate and what would
happen was certain to happen.
Kumbakarna bade good bye to Vibheeshana telling him that the
bondage between them was over and when Vibheeshana went away
he shed tears like the one who had renounced his son. Hearing what
Kumbakarna said , Rama told Vibheeshana that he wanted to give a
chance to Kumbakarna as he did not want to kill his brother who did
no harm but no one could undo the fate.
When Kumbakarna was carrying Sugreeva, Hanuman followed him
helplessely and the vanaras sought refuge with Rama, who barred the
way of Kumbakarna and there was a fierce fight between them.
Kumabakarna was hit by the arrow of Rama and Sugreeva regained
consciousness by the blood of Kumbakarna falling on him. He bit off
the nose and ears of Kumbakarna and escaped.
Rama after cutting off the arms of Kumbakarna and his legs, gave him
an option to go away and come back later as he did for Ravana, but
Kumbakarna said that he would not go in front of Ravana and others
having lost his arms, nose and ears. Rama cut off his legs also and
nearing his death Kumbakarna exclaimed that thousand Ravanas
could not stand in front of the bow of Rama, ayyan vil thozhiRku
aayiram raavaNar amaivilar and said to Rama that he should
protect Vibheeshana at all costs.
thambi ena ninaindhu , irangiththaviraan, atthagavu illaan;
nambi! ivanthanaikkaaNin kollum;iRai nalgaanaal;
umbiyaitthaan, unaitthaan,anumanaitthaan, orupozhudhum
embi piriyaanaaga aRuLudhi,; yaan vEndinEn
Meaning, Ravana would not show consideration to Vibheeshana as his
brother and would kill him if he saw him. Therefore he entreated
Rama to keep Vibheeshana always with him, with Lakshmana and
Hanuman. Then he prayed to Rama to cut his head and throw it in the
sea as he did not want to be ridiculed by devas and the sages seeing
his noseless face.
Then Rama, thinking that he should not delay further and should grant
his request , cut his head by his arrow which pushed it in the sea.
knr--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
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